George's Fitness Journal

Monday, November 26, 2007

I just wanted to report on this morning's basketball games, which were an excellent cardio session and skill-builder. Feedback coming from my co-players is that my skills are improving, but considering how weak a basketball player I was when I started, improvement can be the only option. After five days of not playing basketball due to Thanksgiving break, I was psyched to get back on the court. I did get a chance to do some lifting yesterday, but my lifting levels are way down from my best several months ago. Still, it's good to be in the weight room (my sunroom, actually) making some progress back to where I was.

My strengths included putting back two offensive rebounds, one steal, and one interception. One weak moment involved my passing the ball off when I heard an opponent say "you got help" behind me. I had the ball on a steal and went on the fast break, but wasn't confident enough to make the play myself, sp I passed the ball without even looking for trailer on my team. MISTAKE! Several possessions later, I did take the ball to the basket for a lay-up. I had never heard anyone say "nice take" to me, but there is a first for everything.

Several possessions later, I did take the ball to the basket for a lay-up. I had never heard anyone say "nice take" to me, but there is a first for everything.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

The pace in today's games was faster, and I found it hard to keep up. I was assigned to cover a nineteen year old basketball player, so he cut to the center often, beating me to the ball in time to put it in on a lay-up. I received a lot of good coaching from my teammates, but we ended up losing the series 3-2. most of the baskets scored were on me as defender. I can't say i was slacking off. I just was not fast enough to get to the ball in time to make the play. Eventually, I asked a fellow team member to switch with me. I took the slightly older-but-still-young fellow teacher, and I was able to block one pass and intercept another, even though those turnovers did not amount to a win. The tips I received included the idea that I need to keep from overplaying my opponent while I am on defense. I can stay two pass lengths away while I scan the offense to see if they will go to my opponent. As the ball gets closer to him, I need to move closer to him as well. without overplaying him. Once I commit, he can blow past me. I also need to keep my feet on the ground while defending, without jumping up, because once I am off the ground, he can rabbit his way to the basket.

My hamstrings are yelling at me right now because I have gone two days in a row of high-energy basketball after several days of rest. My goal is to get consistent about lifting again so that I can work back up to the levels I had attained before the constocondritis set in. The hard part is to get into the weight room after getting up early, playing basketball, and then teaching for six to eight hours. It is possible to overdo the exercise aspect of life. My weight continues to fluctuate around 178 lbs, but the loss of muscle mass may be what explains the loss of about 4 pounds on the scale. The real test comes when tightening the belt or putting on the shirt. If the clothes are looser, it does not matter what the scale says.

Stay healthy,

George
georgecassutto@hotmail.com

Table of Contents
To Fitness Journal Main Page

2/3/07 Welcome to Basketball Diaries
2/4/07 Super Bowl XLI
2/4/07 Dieting is a Way of Life
2/5/07 Stormy Monday Blues
2/6/07 Tuesdays with Georgie
2/7/07 At Home In the Gym
2/8/07 Order on the Court
2/9/07 Come to the Dark Side
2/12/07 Preview of Experience vs. Youth
2/13/07 Hold Your Own
2/15/07 Time to Heal
2/16/07 It's Not All About Winning
2/20/07 Getting Back into the Game
2/24/07 A Man's Gotta Know His Limitations
3/24/07 Keeping in Shape
6/03/07 Getting Back Into the Game: Part 2
7/06/07 The Mind-Body Connection
7/25/07 It's How Well You Play The Game
7/30/07 Hiking in the Maryland Mountains
8/14/07 Physical and Spiritual Fitness
9/3/07 Working Out on Labor Day
9/18/07 Back from the Abyss
10/31/07 A Defining Moment
11/26/07 Back in the Game